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Peterside supports multi-stakeholder approach in fighting piracy

Director General of the Nigerian Maritime
Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has expressed
his support for a multi-stakeholder method in tackling the rising cases of
piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.

He told newsmen in an interview that said that
a legal framework prescribing stiffer sanctions, a more vigorous and vigilant
military-led patrol and better intelligence gathering network would help, but
could not be all the solution required to tackling sea piracy.

The NIMASA DG noted that pirates’ activities
threatened shipping, and by extension commerce, which drives global economy, adding
that America gave top priority to fighting piracy by creating the coast guard that has so far proven
effective in tackling piracy.

Peterside said every avenue would be
explored toward keeping Nigerian waterways safe as well as the ships that ply
them, but that it requires wider consultations if there would be considerations
for setting up a joint coast guard.

He told the newsmen that NIMASA under his
leadership, was however, already championing a number of initiatives aimed at
achieving zero pirate activities in Nigerian waters.

While lamenting the unfortunate inclusion
of Nigeria among the top three countries where pirate activities occur, the DG was
hopeful that the renewed fight against piracy would reverse the trend soon.

He said his administration was committed
to re-positioning NIMASA for the accomplishment of its core mandate of ensuring
safe, secure shipping and a cleaner marine environment.

The DG was in Singapore at the invitation
of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore to address a forum of maritime
regulators and experts at this year’s Singapore Maritime Week on the topic “Indispensable
Shipping: Meeting the Regulatory Requirements.”